TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Georgia was the preseason pick to win the Southeastern Conference championship, according to voters attending the league’s annual media days event in Tampa.
The Bulldogs received 88 of 164 votes to reach the title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in early December. Texas was the second choice, with 57 votes, and Mississippi a distant third with six. Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU and Kentucky also received votes.
Only 10 times since 1992 has the media’s preseason predicted champion proceeded to win the SEC title game.
Media also voted on preseason All-SEC teams, with Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss edging Texas’ Arch Manning for first-team quarterback.
1. Georgia, 2,510 points
2. Texas, 2,449
3. Mississippi, 2,004
4. Texas A&M, 1,967
5. LSU, 1,961
6. Alabama, 1,930
7. Oklahoma, 1,914
8. Tennessee, 1,320
9. Florida, 1,217
10. Missouri, 1,105
11. South Carolina, 956
12. Auburn, 936
13. Vanderbilt, 751
14. Kentucky, 546
15. Mississippi State, 467
16. Arkansas, 262
QB: Trinidad Chambliss, Mississippi
RB: Kewan Lacy, Mississippi; Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
WR: Cam Coleman, Texas; Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
TE: Trey’Dez Green, LSU
OG/OT: Trevor Goosby, Texas; Cayden Green, Missouri; Jordan Seaton, LSU; Earnest Greene III, Georgia
C: Drew Bobo, Georgia
All-purpose: Mario Craver, Texas A&M
DL: Colin Simmons, Texas; Will Echoles, Mississippi; Dylan Stewart, South Carolina; Princewill Umanmielen, LSU
LB: Whit Weeks, LSU; Xavier Atkins, Auburn; Rasheem Biles, Texas
DB: KJ Bolden, Georgia; Zabien Brown, Alabama; Bray Hubbard, Alabama; Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
PK: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
P: Grant Chadwick, LSU
Return specialist: Ryan Niblett, Texas
Kickoff specialist: Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
Long snapper: Ben Anderson, Oklahoma
QB: Arch Manning, Texas
RB: Jadan Baugh, Florida; Nate Frazier, Georgia
WR: Mario Craver, Texas A&M; Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
TE: Lawson Luckie, Georgia
OG/OT: Dontrell Glover, Georgia; Michael Fasusi, Oklahoma; Michael Carroll, Alabama; Lance Heard, Kentucky
C: Mark Nabou Jr., Texas A&M
All-purpose: Ryan Niblett, Texas
DL: David Stone, Oklahoma; Elijah Griffin, Georgia; Taylor Wein, Oklahoma; Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
LB: Raylen Wilson, Georgia; Suntarine Perkins, Mississippi; Kip Lewis, Oklahoma
DB: Kelley Jones, Mississippi State; DJ Pickett, LSU; Ty Benefield, LSU; Eli Bowen, Oklahoma; Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma
PK: Lucas Carneiro, Mississippi
P: Grayson Miller, Oklahoma
Return specialist: Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
Kickoff specialist: Lucas Carneiro, Mississippi
Long snapper: Trey Dubuc, Texas
QB: Gunner Stockton, Georgia
RB: DeSean Bishiop, Tennessee; Hollywood Smothers, Texas
WR: Ryan Wingo, Texas; Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
TE: Willie Rodriguez, Kentucky
OG/OT: David Sanders Jr., Tennessee; Patrick Kutas, Mississippi; Brandon Baker, Texas; Wendell Moe Jr., Tennessee
C: Braelin Moore, LSU
All-purpose: Jaden Baugh, Florida
DL: Kam Franklin, Mississippi; DJ Hicks, Texas A&M; Gabe Harris, Georgia; Jayden Woods, Florida
LB: Arion Carter, Tennessee; TJ Dottery, LSU; Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama
DB: Keon Sabb, Alabama; Champ Anthony, Auburn; Khalil Barnes, Georgia; Jelani McDonald, Texas
PK: Alex McPherson, Auburn
P: Ethan Pulliam, Mississippi State
Return specialist: Vernell Brown III, Florida
Kickoff specialist: Terry Bussey, Texas A&M
Long snapper: Brett Le Blanc, Missouri
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